Coin-controlled vending machine



July 13, 1943- F. c. Du GRENlER ETAL 2,323,981

COIN-CONTROLLED VEND-ING MACHINE Filed July 28, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet l u@ a 5 wf y July 13, 1943- F. c. Du GRENIER ET AL COINCONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Filed July 28, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 July 13, 1943- F. c. DU GRENIER E-r A1. 2,323,981

COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Filed July 28, 1941 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 July 13, 1943- F. c. DU GRENIER ET A; 2,323,981

COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE Vff ' IIIEN-DRE? Twig.'

. July 13, 1943- Ffc. Du GRENIER E-r AL 2,323,981

COIN-CONTROLLED VENDING MACHINE vFiled July 2s, 1941 5 sheets-sheet 5 ici? is, i

y 2522.9151- corN-comounn vnNnrNG MACHINE Francis C. Dn Grenier, Haverhill, and FrankL B. Perri, Groveland, Mass.; said. Perri assigner to Bianche E. Bouchard, Haverhill, Mass.

Application July 28, 1941, Serial No. 404,320

17 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for dispensing commodities, such as packages of cigarettes, chewing gum, razor blades, candy and th like.

In general, the apparatus of the invention comprises a plurality of compartments for holding merchandise to be vended. An article selector mechanism is associated with each compartment. A motor driven ejector mechanism is provided which operates through one complete 'cycle to eject an article and stop invits starting position. Control mechanism is arranged to beset to permit or prevent operationof the apparatus to deliver a selected article. .The setting of the control mechanism is eifectedby a setting mechanism which may be actuated one step foreach ve cent unit of coins deposited in the apparatus. A resetting mechanism vis associated with the setting and control mechanism to restore the parts to their starting positions. d

In addition to the novel construction of the parts of the apparatus for arrangement for operative association, the control mechanism and the setting mechanism are constructed so that either or both may be adjusted so that the control mechanism may be set to permit operation of the apparatus to vendarticles having a price value within a wide range. Thus. the control mechanism may be set by the deposit in the apparatus of coins having a total value of ten cents or thirty cents depending upon the adjustment of setting mechanism and control mechanism.

The invention will be more clearly understood from. the following description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of the lower portion of a vending machine embodying the invention, the enclosing cabinet being removed to show the mechanism;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same, partly broken away, certain of the parts being omitted;

Fig. 3 is a. sectional elevational view taken substantially upon the line 3 3 of'Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view, partly in section, as viewed from the right of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line 5 5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6| is a. sectional View taken substantially upon line 5 8 of Fig. 4;

Figs. '1, 8 and 9 are sectional views taken substantially upon lines 1 1, 8 8, and 9 9, respec. tively, of Fig. 1;

Fig. is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line iB II) of Fig. 9;

' Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the line II-II of Fig. l;

Fig. 11a is a sectional view taken on the line IIa-I Ia, of Fig. 1l.:

Fig. 12 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, as viewed from the left of Fig. l;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view taken substantially upon the une la-n of mg. 9; and

Fig. 14 is a diagram of the electrical system.

Referring to Figs. l and 2, the machine illusvtrated comprises spaced side frame members or plates II and I2 extending vertically, A sheet metal plate II extends between and is suitably secured to the frame members II and I2 to provide a horizontal platform il.. At the forward edge of the platform the plate Il is turned upward to provide a panel I4. lit the rear edge of the platform I3 the plate Il is turned downward and then forward to provide a housing I5 for a motor M and associated mechanism. A sheet metal panel Il extends between and is secured to the rear edges of the frame members II and I2 and extends downwardly and forwardly blow the housing I5 and provides a chute C for conveying merchandise to the purchaser. A plurality of vertical partitions 3B! extend upwardly from the platform I3 and provide a plurality of vertical compartments 20 for packages P of merchandise to be vended.

Ejector slide An ejector slide 25 is associated with each compartment 20 and is slidably mounted for movement forwardly and rearwardly upon platform I3. Each ejector slide 25 normally is positioned in front of its associated compartment 20 as shown in Fig. 11 and comprises a sheet metal inverted transversely extending channel having downwardly extending guide fingers 21 and 2B which slidably engage va slot I1 extending from near the front to the rear of the platform I3. The slot I1 connects at its front end with a short transverse slot I8. The front linger 21 depends downwardly past and in front of an ejector bar 30 which extends across the machine and through a slot 3l in each frame member II and I2. A

pawl 33 positioned over the slot I1 is pivotallyv mounted on a boss extending forwardly from the rear linger 28 of the ejector slide 25 and normally is urged upward by spring 35 to the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1l. The topedge of the pawl 33 is provided with a projection 31 normally projecting upward through a slot 26 in the top of the ejector slide. The pawl'tl is provided with a wing 92 projecting from the.

lower edge of the projection 31 laterally over the slot I8 and beyond the edge of the slot I1.

Selector mechanism A separate selector button 40 (Figs. 1, 2, 4 and 1l) also isassociated with each of the vertical columns or compartments 20 and extends forwardly through an opening I9 in the panel I4. A channel member 29 extends across the machine directly over the selector buttons 40, and is secured at its ends to the frame members II and I2. The member 29 is provided with a plurality of spaced slots 32 extending forward and rearward of the machine and each positioned directly over a. selector button 40. A flat headed screw 4I passes through each slot 32 and engages a selector button 40 and serves to support and slidably guide the latter. A stop 43 extends upwardly from each selector button through the slot 32 and is provided with a forwardly extending projection 44 which normally is held in engagement with the panel I4 by a spring 45. Each selector button 40 is provided with a bottom cam surface 46 which is inclined upwardly and rearwardly to engage the projection 31 on the pawl 33. Each selector button 40 also is provided with a groove 34 in its left side face to provide stop shoulders 41 and 48 (Figs. 9 and 10).

A plurality of slide bars 350 (Fig. 2) are positioned end to end in alignment upon the channel member 29 and are guided for sliding movement in the direction of their alignment by guides 35|. Movement of the slide bars is limited by engagement of pins 3 on the endmost slide bars with adjacent lugs. The adjacent ends of the slide bars 350 are located approximately in the path of movement of the posts 43 projecting upward from the selector buttons 40. 'I'he front edge of each slide bar 350 near each end thereof is provided with a cam surface 352 adapted to be engaged by the cam surfaces 43a projecting rearward from the posts 43. Consequently, when a selector button 40 is operated by moving it rearward, the cam surface 43a engages the cam surfaces 352 to separate the slide bars 350 adjacent thereto and permit the post on the selector button to be moved therebetween until the selector button is in its rearwardmost or depressed position. This brings the slide bars 350 to positions preventing the rearward movement of any other selector button 40.

A plurality of levers 50 (Figs. 9 and 10) are pivotally mounted upon the platform I3 so that one arm of each extends rearwardly into a compartment 20 under the column of merchandise. The other arm of each lever 50 extends forwardly and is pivotally connected to the lower end of a latch 5I which extends vertically opposite the groove 34 in a selector button 40 and is provided with an offset portion 52 which extends upwardly through a guide slot in the channel member 29. Normally, the latch 5I is inoperative but when therel is no merchandise in its associated compartment 20, the latch 5I will drop downward to bring its oiset portion 52 in back of the shoulder 48 on the selector button for the empty compartment and lock the selector button against rearward, that is, operating movement.

A plurality of guide pins 55 (Figs. 2 and 3) are xed to the rear flange 36 of the channel member 29 and extend forwardly therefrom through elongated slots 56 in a lock slide 51 which extends across the machine parallel to the ilange I8 and directly above the grooves 34 in the selector buttons. A plurality of spaced fingers 36 extend downwardly from the slide 51 through slots 58 in the channel member 28 and are adapted to engage the shoulders 41 on the selector buttons 40, when the lock slide 51 is moved to its extreme right hand position, to lock the selector buttons in their depressed positions.

The left hand end portion I60 of the slide 51, as viewed in Fig. 3, extends through an opening 36| in the frame member II. A latch I6I (Figs. 1, 2, 3 and l2) is pivotally mounted upon a pin |62 ilxed to the projection I6|J so that its end is adapted to engage the outer surface of the frame member II to hold the lock slide 51 in its extreme left hand position as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3. A spring I63 is secured at one end to the pin |62 and at its other end to the frame member II and passes over a pin I64 projecting from the latch i6I intermediate its ends. The latch IBI is provided with a wing |65 projecting upwardly and forwardly therefrom.

Coin counting mechanism.

A coin chute 10 (Figs. 4 and 5) is suitably mounted upon the outer face of the frame member I2 and comprises a central plate 1I having zig-zag grooves 12 and 13 in its inner and outer faces, respectively, which are covered by plates 14 and 15 to provide coin slots for a nickel and a dime, respectively. The chute 10 discharges coins into a hopper 39. A box-like trough 242 (Fig. 4) is secured upon the outer face of the frame member I2 opposite an opening 248 in the latter to provide communication between the trough 242 and the package chute C. The outer wall of the trough 242 is provided with a projection 244 providing a bearing for rotatably supporting a coin wheel 245 directly below the hopper 39. The wheel 245 is provided with a plurality of coin receiving compartments 246. A c oin collecting box 241 is secured to the frame member I2 below the wheel 245. The arrangement is such that the wheel 245 may be rotated counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 4 to deposit coins in the trough 242 or may be rotated clockwise to deposit coins in. the box 241- by mechanism and for purposes described hereinafter.

A pair of resilient copper contacts 16 and 11 (Figs. 4 and 14) are secured in spaced relation intermediate their ends in a block of insulation 18 mounted upon the coin chute 10. Power is supplied to the machine from a suitable source through the electrical conductors A and B. The

contact 16 is connected by a lead 80 to conductor A. The contact 11 is connected by a lead II to one terminal 82 of a solenoid 83. The other terminal 84 of the solenoid is connected by a lead 85 to conductor B. A cam 86 of insulating material engaging contact 16 near one end is rotatably mounted upon a pin 91 projecting from the coin chute 10. One end of an arm 88 is secured to the cam 96 and its other end is bent inwardly and passes through aligned slots 83 in the plates 1I and 15 so as to project into the coin passages 12 and 13 for nickels and dimes respectively. Another cam IIIII of insulating material engaging contact 16 near -its other end is mounted for rotation on a pin IDI projecting from the coin chute 10. One end of an arm |02 is secured to the cam |08 and its other end is bent inwardly so as to project through an arcuate slot |03 into the dime passage 1l only.

Setting mechanism Ihe solenoid 83 (Figs. 4 and 6) is mounted upon a bracket |06 secured to the outer wall of face of the frame member I I.

a frame member I2. The bracket |05 is provided with spaced depending plates |05 and |01 which provide bearings for rotatably supporting a shaft (Figs. 1, 4 and 6). A wheel |00 is iixed upon the shaft |00 and is provided with a predetermined limited number of teeth 0|. A coil spring 42 surrounds the shaft |00 with one end secured in the plate |00 and its other end secured in the wheel |00 and normally urging the shaft and wheel in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 6. An escapement wheel ||0 is loosely mounted upon the shaft |00 between the plate |01 and a collar ||I which is fixed to the shaft. A pin ||2 is fixed in any one of a plurality of threaded holes ||3 circumferentially spaced in the wheel I|0 and is adapted to be engaged by an arm ||4 projecting laterally from the collar A U-shaped lever, having arms 53 and 54, is pivotally mounted upon a shaft |I0 ilxed in the plate |01 and projecting from opposite faces thereof. A pin ||1 carried by the amature ||0 of the solenoid 03 projects into an elongated slot ||0 formed in the arm 53 of the U-shaped lever. The other arm 54 of the U-shaped lever is provided with a' projection |20 adapted to engage an escapement lever |2I which is pivotally mounted upon the shaft||0 and is provided with escapement teeth |22 and 4|23 adapted to engage alternately the teeth |24 on the wheel |I0. The escapement lever |2| is 'maintained in engagement with the projection |20 byaspring |25.

A rack |30 is slidably mounted in spaced ears |3| projecting rearwardly from the plate |01 and is provided at its upper end with a projection |32. The teeth of the rack |30 mesh with teeth |33 on the wheel ||0. A lug |34 is secured on the rack |30 and is adapted to engage the lower ear |3| to limit movement of the rack in one direction.

A price bar |40 extends between the frame members Il and I2 and is mounted for rotation and axial movement in bearings formed therein. A plurality of spaced tabs 0, one for each compartment 20, depend from the price bar |40 and each is adjustably mounted thereon by a screw 1 passing through one or the other of theholes 0 or 0 in the tab. One end I 4| of the price bar extends through the frame member I2 and is provided with a radial arm |42 which extends beneath and in the path of movement of the rack projection |32. The pricebar projection |4I also is provided with a circular rack' |43 adapted to be engaged by the teeth 0| of the rack pinion |00.,

The other end of the price bar- |40 is provided with a projection |50 which extends through the frame member I| and is provided with an arm which extends into a. groove |52 in the pivotally mounted arm |53 of a switch |54' (Figs. l, 12 and 14;) which is mounted upon the outer One terminal 00 of the switch |54 is connected by a lead |50 to one terminal |04 of a solenoid |04 and the other terminal 09 of the switch |54 is connected by a lead ||5 to the conductor B. The other terminal 00 of the solenoid |04 is connected by a lead 01 to conductor A. The projection |50 also is provided with a rearwardly extending arm |55 which projects rearward under the wing |05 of the latch |5I.

Ey'ector mechanism The ends of the ejectorV bar 30 which project through the slots 3| in the frame members I and I2 are slidably received in an elongated slot |15 (Figs. 4 and 12) near the upper end of each of the arms |10 which are pivotally mounted at their other ends on posts |11 projecting from theouterface ofeachortheframemembers and I2. The ejector bar 30 is reciprocated by power supplied by a motor M (Pigs. 1 and 2) which is mounted upon the frame member The armature shaft of the motor is provided with a worm |10 ensaslns a worm wheel |10 which is freely rotatable upon a main drive shaft |00 extending between and through the frame members II and I2 andmounted forrotationinbearingstherein. Acrank |0| isnxedtoeachprojectingendofthemaindriveshaft I00andis pivotally connected to one end of a link |02 the other end of which is pivotally connected to the arm |10 intermediate the ends thereof.

A collar |03 (Figs. l, 2, 'I and 8) is fixed to the drive shaft |00 and is provided with a pro- Jecting ear |04 to which a pawl |05 is pivotally mounted. The pawl |05 is urged by a spring |00 to engage the teeth |00 of a clutch element |01 surrounding the shaft |00 and fixed to the worm wheel |10. An arm |00 is pivotally connected at one end to a bracket |0| carried by the housing I5. The other end of thearni |00 is pivotally connected by a pin |02 to the plunger |03 of the solenoid |04. A spring |05 surrounds the plunger |03 and extends between the solenoid |04 and the pin |02 to urge the arm |00 toward the position shown in Figs. `1 and 2. The arm |00v is provided with a downwardly and forwardly extending cam ilnger |00 to a position between the collar |03 and the path of movement of 'a lateral projection |01 on the pawl |05.

A lever |00 (Figs. land 2) is pivotally mounted upon a bracket |00 carried by the housing I5. 0ne arm 50 of the lever |00 projects upwardly adjacent the face 200 of the collar |03 and past the arm |00. The arm 50 is provided with a lateral projection 20| vadapted to engage the face 200 of the collar |03 and a recess 202 formed inthe latter. The lever |00 is urged in counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 1 by a spring 203. The lever |00 also is adapted to engage and depress a plunger 204 of a motor switch 205 (Figs. 1, 2 and 14) to close the latter, which normally is held open by a springv 50. One terminal 0| of the switch 205 is connected to one terminal 02 of the motor M by a lead 03. The other terminal 54 of the switch is connected by a lead 05 to conductor B. The other terminal 00 of the motor is connected by a lead 51 tov conductor A.

Reset mechanism A manually operable reset arm 2|0 (Fig. 4), which projects forward through a guide slot |20 in a plate |21, is pivotally mounted upon a pin 2| I fixed to the outer surface of thev frame member I2 and normally is urged by a spring 2|2 to a position engaging the top of slot |20 as shown in Fig. 4. The upper end of a link 2|3 is pivotally connected to the reset arm 2|0 and Y its other end is provided with an elongated slot 22| and engaging the frame member I2 serves to secure the slide upon the frame member. The forward movement of the slide 22| is limited to a pin 226 mounted upon the slide so as to engage a stop 221 fixed upon the frame member I2. 'I'he slide normally is urged to its forward position by a spring 230. The arrangement is such that as the bell crank lever 2|1 is rotated, the arm 2|6 thereof engages the lug |34 (Figs. 4 and 6) on the rack |30 to move the latter downwardly.

A plurality of pins 88, 89 and 90 (Fig. 4) project from the inner wall of the coin wheel 245 so that a pair thereof are normally positioned adjacent the lower edge of the slide 22|. The lower edge of the slide 22| is provided With spaced notches 248 and 249. A pawl 250 is pivotally mounted upon the slide 22| so that its operative surface extends below the lower edge of the slide and in alignment with the rear edge of the notch 249. otally mounted upon the slide forward of the notch 248 so that its operative surface projects below the 'bottom edge of the slide and is normally aligned with the forward edge of the notch 248. Each of the pawls 250 and 25| are provided with an inwardly extending projection 252 normally held in engagement with the bottom edge of the slide 22| by a spring 253 which connects arms 254 projecting upwardly from the pawls 250 and 25|.

A plate 235 (Fig. 12) is pivotally and slidably mounted upon the outer surface of the frame member by a screw 236 passing through an elongated slot 231 in the plate 235 and engaging the frame member Il. The plate normally is urged against a guide pin 238 by a spring 239. The lower end portion of the plate 235 is positionedopposite the slot 3| and is provided with a rearwardly and upwardly extending cam surface 240. The plate 235 also is provided with an outwardly extending projection 24| having a downwardly and outwardly inclined cam surface adapted to engage a pin |66 projecting forward from the lock slide 51 to move the latter to the left as viewed in Fig. 3 to its inoperative position.

Setting mechanism adjustment The machine as illustrated is constructed to dispense articles having a value in five cent units up to thirty cents and can be adjusted to dispense articles having any value between ilve and thirty cents. The tabs 6 depending from the price bar |40 are adjustable thereon to either of two positions. Thus, if a ta'b 6 is positioned in its extreme right hand position on the bar |40 as viewed in Figs. l and 2, articles of a given price value, such as ilfteen cents, may be dispensed from its corresponding merchandise compartment, whereas, if the tab 6 is positioned at its extreme left hand position, articles having a value ve cents higher must be dispensed from that compartment.

A further price value adjustment is provided on the wheel by the position of the pin ||2. When the pin ||2 is positioned as illustrated in Fig. 6, the machine is adjusted for dispensing articles having a value of either twentyfive or thirty cents depending upon the adjustment of the tabs 6 on the price bar |40. If it is desired to adjust the machine to dispense articles having a value of twenty and twenty-ve cents, the pin ||2 is positioned in the next adjacent hole |I3 on the wheel ||0. If it is desired A similar pawl 25| is piv-A to dispense articles having a value of ten and fifteen cents, the pin ||2 should be positioned in the lowermost hole H3.

'I'he position of the pin ||2 controls the initial relationship between the teeth 9| on the wheel |09 and the rack |43. Thus, with the machine adjusted as illustrated, the escapement mechanism is operated three steps during each of which the teeth on the wheel |09 are brought progressively nearer engagement with the rack |43. When the escapement mechanism is operated a fourth step, the teeth 9| of the wheel |09 engage the rack |43 and operate it to move the price bar axially to the right one step as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2. When the escapement mechanism is operated a fifth step. the price bar is again moved axially another step to bring a tab thereon, which has been adjusted to its extreme right hand position, into the path of movement of the lug 43 on a. selector button 40. 'Ihe machine is then set for operation.

Operation With the parts in the positions illustrated in Fig. 1, all the tabs 8 are positioned out of the path of movement of the lugs 43 and. consequently, the machine must be set for operation by the deposit of nickels and/or dimes totalling the value of either twenty-five or thirty cents depending upon the position of the tab 8 corresponding to the compartment 20 from which merchandise is desired to be obtained. The purchaser having decided which article he desires to purchase deposits the required nickels or dimes in the coin chute 10 to set the machine for operation. Each nickel deposited depresses the arm 98 momentarily to close the circuit to the solenoid 83 to operate the counting and setting mechanism one step. Each dime deposited in the coin chute rst depresses the arm 98 momentarily to operate the counting and setting mechanism one step and then travels downwardly in the passage 13 to depress the arm |02 to again operate the counting and setting mechanism one step. Thus, the counting and setting mechanism is operated one step for each iive cent unit coin value deposited in the coin chute 10. If the purchaser desires to purchase a twenty-five cent article the counting and setting mechanism is operated by the deposited coins five steps to move the price bar |40 axially and bring the tab 6, corresponding to the compartment from which the article is to be dispensed, into the path of movement of the lug 43 on the selector button' 4l for that compartment.

The purchaser then pushes in the selector button 40 of the selected compartment causing the lug 43 carried thereby to engage the corresponding tab 6 to rotate the price bar |40 counterclock- Wise as viewed in Fig. 11. 'I'his causes the arm |55 (Fig. 12) to lift and release the latch III and permit the spring |83 to move the lock slide 51 to the right, as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3, to bring one of the fingers 38 depending therefrom into the recess 34 formed in the face of the selector button to engage the shoulder 41 and thus lock the selector button in its depressed position. As the selector button is pushed in, the cam surface 40 thereon engages the projection 31 on the pawl 33 to move the latter down in back of the ejector bar 30 as indicated in dotted line in Fig. 11. This positions the wing 92 on the pawl below the platform I3.

'I'he rotation of the price bar |40 also causes the arm |5| (Fig. 12) to pivot the switch arm |53 to close the switch |54 and. consequentLv, the circuit to the solenoid |34 (Figs. 1 and 2). Energization of the solenoid |34 causes its plunger |03 to be moved to the right as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2 thereby moving the lever |90 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 1 to close the motor switch 205 and start the motor M. This causes the worm wheel |19 (Fig. '7) and the clutch element |01 to rotate upon the main drive shaft |00. Also, as the solenoid plunger |93 is moved to the right. the arm |90 is moved counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2 to release the pawl |35 and permit the spring |88 to move the pawl into clutching ensagement with the teeth |03 of the clutch element |31 thereby operatively connecting the motor M and the main drive shaft |80v to rotate the latter.

During the single revolution of the shaft |00, the arms |15 are oscillated through the cranks |3| and links |82 to slide the ejector bar 30 in the slots 3| from the position shown in Figs. 4, 11 and 12 ilrst rearwardly and then forwardly back to its original position. As the ejector bar moves rearwardly it engages the pawl 33 on the ejector slide 25 to move the latter and cause it to push the lowermost package of merchandise out of the selected compartment 20 and into the delivery chute i6. As the pawl 33 moves out of engagement with the cam surface 40, the wing 92 engages the bottom surface of the platform |3 to maintain the pawl engaging the ejector bar 30. As the ejector bar 30 moves forwardly it engages the finger 21 and returns the ejector slide 28 to its original position shown in Fig. 11. As the ejector slide 25 approaches its original position. the wing 92 is moved by the spring 35 upwardly through the transverse slot I t0 return the pawl 33 to its inoperative position out of the path of movement of the ejector bar 30.

As the ejector bar 30 moves rearwardly it engages the slide 22| to move the latter rearwardly and thus bring the pawl 25| in engagement with the pin 88 to rotate the coin wheel 245 clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4, and cause the deposited coins to be discharged in the money box 241. Also, during the rearward movement of the ejector bar 30. the latter engages the arm 2|9 of the bell crank 2|1 to rotate the latter. 'I'his causes the bell crank arm 2|6 to engage the lug |34 on the rack |30 to move the latter downward until the lug |34 engages the lower ear |3I. The downward movement of the rack |30 causes rotation of the shaft |08 and the wheel |09 which in turn moves the price bar |40 axially to the left as viewed in Figs. 1 and 2 to return the latter to its original axial position. As the rack |30 is thus moved downward the rack projection |32 engages the arm |42 on the price bar to rotate the latter clockwise as viewed in Fig. 4 to its original position. This causes the arm (Fig. 12) to pivot the switch arm |53 to open the switch |54 and deenergize the solenoid |94.

As the main drive shaft |80 completes one revolution, the cam finger |95 (Figs. l and 2) depending from the arm |90 engages the projection |91 on the pawl |85 to cause the pawl to ride up out of engagement with the clutch element |81 thus disconnecting the motor M and shaft |80. Also as the main drive shaft |00 completes one revolution, the projection 20| on the lever |98 is forced by spring 203 into the recess 202 thereby permitting the spring 50 to m'ove plunger 204 and open the switch 205 and the circuit to the motor During the rearward movement of the ejector bar 30 the slide plate 235 is rotated counterclockwise as viewed in Fig. 12 until the ejector bar moves out of engagement therewith to permit the spring 233 to rotate the slide plate 235 in a counterclockwise direction into engagement with the guide stop 233. Then as the ejector bar moves forwardly it engages the cam surface 240 on theslide 235 to move the latter upward to cause the cam 24| to engage the pin |55 and move the lock slide 51 to the left as viewed in Figs. 2 and 3 to its original inoperative position at which time the spring |03 moves the latch lll to its locking position to hold the lock slide 51 in its inoperative position. As the lock slide 51 is thus moved the selector button 40 is released and returned to its original position by the action of the spring 45.

If the purchaser, after depositing coins in the coin c hute 10, should decided that he has made a mistake in his selection, he can obtain a refund of his money if he has not already depressed the selector button 40. To obtain a refund of the money deposited, the purchaser moves the reset lever 2| 0 (Fig. 4) downward thus causing rotation of the bell crank 2|1 through the connecting link 2|3. This causes the arm 2|9 of the bell crank to engage the pin 220 on the slide 22| and move the latter rearward. As the slide is moved rearward the pawl 250 will ride over the pin 39 and thereafter be returned by the spring 253 to its operative position in back of the pin. At this point the lever 2 i 0 engages the bottom of the slot |25 to limit the rearward movement of the slide 22|. The lever 2|0 then is released and the slide 22| is moved forward by the action of the spring 230. As the slide 22| moves forwardly the pawl 250 engages the pin 33 to rotate the coin wheel 245 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in Fig. 4 to cause the coins to be discharged into the trough 242 and slide into the package delivery chute I0 where they are accessible to the purchaser. The rotation of the bell crank 2|1 causes the arm 2|0 thereof to engage the lug |34 and move the rack |30 downward as viewed in Figs. 4 and 6 to reset the price bar |40V as previously described.

We claim:

1. In a vending apparatus having a plurality of compartments for holding merchandise to be dispensed, a reciprocable ejector bar, electrical actuated means for reciprocating said bar, a movably mounted selector button associated with each compartment, the combination therewith of an ejector slide associated with each compartment and movable to eject an article therefrom,

4means carried by each ejector slide adapted to be moved into the path of movement of said bar by operation of its corresponding selector button, control mechanism adapted to be actuated by any one of said selector buttons to render said electrical means operative, said control mechanism having a member movable from a position preventing operation of said selector buttons to a position permitting operation of said selector buttons, setting mechanism operative for moving said member from its preventing to its permitting position, and means for actuating said setting mechanism.

2. In a vending apparatus having a plurality of compartments for holding merchandise to be dispensed, an ejector mechanism movable to eject an article, electrical means for actuating said mechanism, and a movably mounted selector button associated with each compartment, the combination therewith of control mechanism adapted to be actuated by any one of said selector buttons to render said electrical means operative, said control mechanism having a member movable from a position preventing operation of said selector buttons to a position permitting operation of said selector buttons, setting mechanism operative for moving said member from its' preventing to its permitting position, and means 'for actuating said setting mechanism.

3. In a vending apparatus, in combination, a plurality of compartments for holding merchandise to be dispensed, a movably mounted selectorV any one of said ejector slides, and means carried by each ejector slide adapted to be moved into the path of movement of said ejector bar by operating its corresponding selector button.

4. In a vending apparatus, in combination, a plurality of compartments for holding merchandise to be dispensed, a movably mounted selector button associated with each compartment, an ejector slide associated with each compartment and movable to eject an article therefrom. a reciprocable ejector bar adapted to be selectively associated with any one of said ejector slides, and means carried by each ejector slide adapted to be moved into the path of movement of said ejector bar by operating its corresponding selector button, control mechanism having a member movable from a position preventing operation of said selector buttons to a position permitting operation of said selector buttons, setting mechanism operative for moving said member from its preventing to its permitting position, and means for actuating said setting mechanism.

5. In a vending apparatus having a plurality of compartments for holding merchandise to be dispensed, an ejector mechanism movable through a single cycle to eject an article and return to its starting position, and electrical means for actuating said mechanism, the combination therewith of a movably mounted selector button associated with each compartment, control mechanism adapted to be set for actuation by a selected selector button to render said electrical means operative, setting mechanism operative for' setting said control mechanism, and coin actuated means for operating said setting mechanism.

6. In a vending apparatus having a plurality of compartments for holding merchandise to be dispensed, an ejector mechanism movable through a single cycle to eject an article and return to its starting position, and electrical means for actuating said mechanism, the combination therewith of a movably mounted selector button associated with each compartment, a control member mounted for rotation and axial movement, coin actuated means for moving said member axially into and out of operative relation with a selected selector button whereby movement of the selected button in one direction causes rotation oi' said member, and means adapted to be actuated by said rotation of said member for rendering said electrical means operative.

'7. In a vending apparatus having a plurality of compartments for holding merchandise to be dispensed, an ejector mechanism movable through a single cycle to eject an article and return to its starting position, and electrical means for actuating said mechanism, the combination therewith of a movably mounted selector button associated with each compartment, a' control member mounted for rotation and axial movement, coin actuated means ,for moving said member axially into and out of operative relation with a selected selector button whereby movement of the selected .button in one direction causes rotation of said member, and means adapted to be actuated by said rotation of said member for rendering said electrical means operative, and means adapted to be actuated by said ejector mechanism for moving said coin actuated means to restore said member toits original position.

8. In a vending apparatus having a plurality of compartments for holding merchandise to be dispensed, an ejector mechanism movable through a single cycle to eject an article and return to its inoperative position, and electrical means for actuating said mechanism, said mechanism and means including a main drive shaft and an electric motor, a motor driven clutch element rotatably mounted on said shaft, driving connections between said element and motor, a pawl carried by said shaft and mounted thereon for movement into and out of clutching relation with said clutch element, a collar fixed upon said shaft having a recess in its face, a pawl control member pivotally mounted for movement into and out vof the path of movement of said pawl to control the movement of the latter into and out of clutching relation with said element, means fox` supplying power to said motor including a switch having a pivotally mounted switch arm with a projection adapted to engage the face of said collar in the path of movement of the recess therein, spring means urging said arm toward said face whereby the switch is opened when said projection moves into said recess, means for moving said arm in the opposite direction to close said switch, and means for connecting said member and switch arm to swing in unison.

9. In a vending apparatus having a plurality of compartments for holding merchandise to be dispensed, an ejector mechanism movable through a single cycle to eject an article and return to its inoperative position, and electrical means for actuating said mechanism, said mechanism and means including a main drive shaft and an electric motor, a motor driven clutch element rotatably mounted on said shaft, driving connections .between said element and motor, a pawl carried by said shaft and mounted thereon for movement into and out of clutching relation with said clutch element, means for stopping said shaft after a predetermined movement thereof including a pawl control member pivotally mounted for movement into and out of the path of movement of said pawl to control the movement of the latter into and out of clutching relation with said element.

10. In avending apparatus, in combination, control mechanism having a member movable from an operation preventing position to an operation permitting position, an actuator adapted to be moved to actuate said control mechanism when said member is in said operation permitting position, setting mechanism operative for moving said member from said preventing to said permitting position, coin actuated means for operating said setting mechanism step by step for each predetermined coin unit value of the coin or coins deposited, and means for adjusting said setting mechanism so that it must be operated through fa predetermined number of steps to move said member from its preventing to its permitting position.

il. In a vending apparatus, in combination, control mechanism having a member movable from an operation preventing position to an peration permitting position, an actuator adapted to be moved to actuate said control mechanism when said member is in said operation permitting position, setting mechanism operative for moving said member from said preventing to said permitting position, and coin actuated means for operating said setting mechanism step by step for each predetermined coin unit value of the coin or coins deposited, means foradjusting said setting mechanism solthat it must be operated through a predetermined number of steps to move said member from its preventing to its permitting position, and means for adjusting said member to change the location of its preventing position.

12. In a vending apparatus, in combination, a plurality of compartments for holding merchandise to be dispensed, a slidably mounted selector button associated with each compartment, a price bar mounted for rotation and axial movement and having spaced arms adapted to be operatively associated With said selector buttons, coin actuated means for moving said bar axially to bring one of its arms opposite one selector button whereby said bar is rotated by slidably depressing said button, a lock slide movable into and out of a position to lock said buttons in their depressed position, a spring acting to move said slide to its locking position, a latch adapted to dered operative by closing said motor switch forv operatively connecting said motor and ejector mechanism and for disconnecting the same as said main shaft completes one revolution, means operative as said main shaft completes one revolution for opening said motor switch, means adapted to be actuated by said ejector mecha# nism for rotating said price far back to its original angular position and actuating said means for moving said price bar to move the latter axially to its original position, and means adapted to be actuated by said ejector mechanism for restoring said lock slide to its inoperative position.

13. In a vending apparatus having a plurality of compartments for receiving merchandise to be vended, and a selector plunger associated with each of said compartments, the combination therewith of a solenoid having a circuit, an article ejector, means for actuating said ejector including a motor having a circuit. means adapted to be conditioned for actuation by any one of said plungers to close said solenoid circuit,

coin operated mechanism adapted to condition said last mentioned means selectively in re'- sponse to coin value for actuation by a predetermined one of said plungers, and means adapted to be actuated by said solenoid to close said motor circuit.

14. In a vending apparatus, in combination, control mechanism having a member movable from an operation preventing to an operation permitting position, a rotatably mounted shaft, coin actuated means for rotating said shaft in one direction step by step for each predetermined coin unit value of the coin or coins deposited, means for providing a driving connection between said member and shaft during at least one of said step by step movements of said shaft to move said member from its preventing to its permitting position, adjustable means for fixing the initial angular position of said shaft. and means for rotating said shaft in ythe opposite direction back to its initial position.

15. In a vending apparatus, in combination, control mechanism having a member movable from an operation preventing to an operation permitting position, a rotatably mounted shaft, coin actuated means for rotating said shaft in one direction from a predetermined position step by step for each predetermined coin unit value of the coin or coins deposited, means foi` providing a driving connection between said member and shaft during at least one of said step by step movements o f said shaft to move said member from said preventing to said permitting position, and means for rotating said shaft in the opposite direction back to its initial position.

16. In a vending apparatus, in combination, control mechanism having a member movable from an operation preventing to an operating permitting position, a rotatably mounted shaft, coin actuated means for rotating said shaft in one direction step by step for each predetermined coin unit value of the coin or coins deposited, means for providing a driving connection between said member and shaft during at least one of said step by step movements of said shaft to move said member from its preventing to its permitting position, adjustable means for xing the initial angular position of said shaft, means for rotating said shaft in the opposite direction back to its initial position, and means for adjusting said member to change the location of its preventing position.

1'1. In a vending apparatus, in combination, control mechanism having a member movable from an operation preventing to an operation permitting position, a rotatably mounted shaft, coin actuated means for rotating said'shar't in one direction from a predetermined position step by step for each predetermined coin unit value of the coin or coins deposited, means for providing a driving connection between said member and shaft during at least one of said step by step movements of said shaft to move said member from said preventing to said permitting position, means for rotating said shaft in the opposite position back to its initial position, and means 'for adjusting said member to change the location of its preventing position.

FRANCIS C. DU GRENIER. FRANK B. FERRI. 

